Chapter Seven: Finally! The Great Hunt!

Jakilynn was still shaking her head at the man's poor situation as she and Mako entered the training room, which had become the meeting place for all hunters and handlers.

Crysta ran up to them excitedly. Relieved, she exclaimed, "You're alive! Some Mandalorian big shot called Tarro Blood said you were dead. They're 'bout to start the melee without you!"

Jaki frowned. "Can you still get me into that melee, Crysta?"

The punk-styled woman laughed. "Yeah, but just by the skin off yer knuckles! All the other hunters who survived are already inside! Get in there!"

"Back in a flash!" The hunter grinned maniacally, and Crysta was beginning to pity the fates of the rival hunters.

"That's the spirit!"

Jaki ran like there were twelve gundarks on her tail, and made it to the arena just as the Assistant Huntmaster Lek was finishing laying down the rules for the other hunters.

"-And the last hunter left standing joins the Great Hunt. Simple as that. All weapons are allowed, but you fight alone. No assistants. And it looks like we have a latecomer!"

Jaki smiled and rolled her eyes. "Someone made up a story that I was dead."

Lek actually smiled. "Your competitors were relieved to hear that tale. Too bad for them, huh?" Lek looked up to the high alcove where the grand albino Wookie sat and watched the melee. "Huntmaster, will you do us the honor?"

The Huntmaster stood, and said in plain, melodic Shyriiwook, "Today, many hunters earn glory in death and defeat. One hunter earns eternal glory and victory. Good hunting to you all!"

Lek glanced around balefully at the hunters. "You hunters are the best that the galaxy's goons and thug lords could send us. Now show us which one of you will join the Great Hunt. Fight!"

Immediately, Jaki spun around and pulled a roundhouse kick on the human boy- and Jaki meant that literally because he couldn't have been more than sixteen -next to her. One down, five to go. After observing the shoot-out between the Trandoshan and the Gamorean, Jakilynn decided to sit out that inter-species fight. Instead, her next target became the Mirialan woman who looked deadly, but obviously wasn't a show-off.

"We all heard the tales of your exploits, hunter," said the woman, remarkably calm for someone shooting at sentient beings. "Perhaps I'll turn them into a song to commemorate your death." Then again, the Mirialan might be participating in the age-old practice of back-and-forth-banter.

"I'll do the same, friend," stated Jaki solemnly, then the Hunter grinned wickedly. "Do you prefer ballads or war chants?"

The other hunter scowled. "I prefer to win. I'd wish you luck, but it wouldn't help, so I'll just say goodbye."

Jaki grinned, not a hint of remorse inside. "Good luck with that." A burst of plasma from both of Jaki's pistols saved the Mirialan the trouble of replying.

The other hunters quickly decimated each other, and Jaki ran on total survival instinct, shooting at anything that got close. She made jumps that just didn't look human, and was almost twirling through the battlefield, both trigger fingers on automatic. Apparently the younger male Mandalorians found this incredible, and more than a few wolf-whistles pierced the arena's air.

It was minutes, but it felt like millenia. Jaki eventually realised the utter silence in the arena, then grinned like a jungle nexu. The crowd roared. Lek, the assistant huntmaster, raised her fist in triumph, and she raised both arms high. She quickly scanned the crowd, and found the pair of eyes she was looking for. Dark blue, she was vaguely reminded of the Mandalorian she met in those winding hallways. It was probably even the same one. The blonde-haired, blue eyed Mandalorian saluted her, and Jaki did in return. The crowd went wild. Or at least, more wild than they already were.

Lek lead her to the 'backstage'. "Quite a show you put on," he remarked, obviously jovial. "Blasted fun to watch. How do you feel, hunter?"

Jaki raised a blood-red eyebrow. "I just stomped my competition into the dirt. I feel great."

Lek snorted. "Enjoy it. Things only get harder from here."

The albino Wookie growled, "Let the hunter stand before me. She is honoured beyond all common hunters. Let it be known that-"

A chillingly familiar voice sounded from behind Jakilynn. "This is simply ridiculous," he drawled. "I mean, really, this needs to stop right now."

Jaki turned. Before her stood a Mandalorian man in pale blue armour, his tattooed face glaring at her in disgust. Tarro Blood. With a face as masked as a Jedi's, Jaki drew both her pistols and said, clearly and calmly, "Are we starting the Hunt already?"

"No, no!" cried Lek. "No unsanctioned kills in the Great Hunt!"

Jaki grudgingly returned her pistols to their holsters, while Blood used the outburst to his advantage. "You see? That's a perfect example. I object to this farce. This ignorant thug does not deserve to enter the Great Hunt. Her credentials are a lie fabricated by her little gutter rat of a sidekick. She deserves no honours."

Mako, who had been furious since Blood walked into the room, said, her voice cold yet full of rage, "You lying, cheating, murdering scum!"

"We know this hunter's history, Blood. The Huntmaster has ruled," insisted Lek.

"You fools!" Blood raged. "This is a place of honour, a competition of elites. Mandalore will hear of this!"

Jaki smirked, though without amusement. "Running already? I'm ready to settle this right now. How about you?"

"Enough! Before this Great Hunt is over, I will have your skull in my hands!" snarled Tarro Blood. Then, the cowardly Mandalorian (now isn't that a misnomer) turned and walked away.

Lek whistled. "Well, looks like the Great Hunt just got a lot more interesting. Sorry to interrupt, Huntmaster. Please, continue."

"The Great Hunt proves talent, resolve," growls the Huntmaster. "Mandalore calls it to bring hum the most skilled-hunter in the galaxy. Each hunter will hunt the other's prey. Then each hunter hunts each other. At the end, there is no prey, and only one hunter."

Lek looks at her, prepared to translate. "You get all that, hunter?"

Jakilynn shrugs, sort of carelessly. "Sort of. Shyriiwook Grammar is crazy, but I've only got one question. What happens when I win?"

"Fame, glory, wealth, and a chance to work with Mandalore, the greatest leader in the galaxy," Lek said, knowing the understatement in his words. "You'll be hunting targets spread across the galaxy. There will be at least one other hunter going after them, too. You not only have to take down the target, you have to eliminate the other hunters."

Jakilynn raised an eyebrow. "What if I don't get to my targets first?"

"Then you'll have hunters gunning for you instead of the other way around," explained the assistant huntmaster.

"Today you are truly the hunter, and all else is your prey," snarled the albino Wookie welcomingly. "Welcome to the Great Hunt."